Faux is delighted to present a unique collection of limited edition Lightboxes by William Furniss

William Furniss is a urbanist and architectural photographer based in Hong Kong. 

He was born in London in 1970. An early interest in science and design led to an engineering degree at Exeter University in England before beginning his photographic career in 1991. Initially taken with the idea of working as a portrait photographer, Furniss assisted luminaries of the London scene such Patrick Litchfield and Terry O’Neill. 

In 1993 Furniss was encouraged by friends already in residence to visit Hong Kong. Deng Xiaoping had reputedly said “To get rich is glorious” and the world’s focus had suddenly swung towards China. Fully intending to continue portrait photography on arriving in Hong Kong, his work took a marked change of direction. 

The alien visual landscape of Hong Kong reignited a fascination with documenting the immediate environment; the rural English landscapes of his youth now being replaced by the chaotic cityscapes of Asia. Initial simple and straight forward records on film developed into ever more complicated narratives through multiple exposures and contact sheets. 

Furniss’ interest in cities led him to New York in 1999 with two years spent there developing his approach which today favors pre-visualisation of the image and camera-only manipulations to create a subjective but recognizable record of our time and a testament to the belief that cities should be vibrant, enjoyable, sustainable, democratic places that enable a positive future for us on this planet. Numerous exhibitions have been held of Furniss’ work which features in collections in Hong Kong and elsewhere. His most recent show “Reflection” being his first collaboration with French sculptor and fellow Hongkonger Polo Bourieau.

Artist Statement:

"I photograph 21st century urban phenomena. 

Photography can all too easily stop at the level of appearances and go no further. My work is more than that, is it evocative of my experience, offers me consolation in spite of the times, and is a reminder to exist in the moment. The act of photography is my motivation, the outcome is a signpost to a better life.

My photography starts with a chance encounter, briefly the potential for a photograph will appear, a minute flash of what “might be”—then flicker away just as suddenly.  And then the ideas come, my mind forms an optimal visual, and finally, I create those ideas in camera. 

In reality a single image of mine can take years for all the right factors to come together, not just photographic factors but life circumstances too; what I am forced to create is meticulously managed serendipity. My equipment is very simple. At best camera, lens, tripod, and feet. The subjects are complicated, I must employ a simple approach to stand any chance of things making sense. 

I love the crowded streets of Hong Kong but I don’t want to engage or simply snap what is obvious. I want to record unique circumstances that describe an essential component of the place. I never want to tell the whole story, better to tell the tale picture by picture. 

For many years my main subject has been Hong Kong. It is a tumultuous yet highly accessible urban environment. It is constantly inspiring to me. I am grateful for the life I have led here, and seek to celebrate, preserve, and disseminate the city’s importance through my photographic work."

The seven Deadly Sins is a grouping and classification of Vices of Christian origin in the 4th Century by ascetic monk and theologian Evagrius Ponticus. Widely iterated by the Catholic Church, they becane prevalent in art and literature in sermons like "The Parsons Tale" from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and artworks like Dante's Peter Brueghel the Elder's prints. Here, we have Bessmertny's playful an dwry interpretation of "Pride", "Greed", "Lust", "Envy", "Gluttony, "Wrath", and "Sloth", on stunning dinner plate designs, which are sure to become a talking point around your dining table. 

Artists' Editions at Faux

Artist: Konstantin Bessmertny

Faux collaborates with artists, designers and photographers worldwide to create original, limited edition homeware and lifestyle collections as functional art. Artists' Editions at Faux five artists opportunities to explore mediums not traditionally associated with their work and exposes them to a wider audience worldwide.

Ye Ling Han Limited Edition Dinner Plates - Set of 4

Ye Ling Han attended the prestigious China Academy of Art in Hangzhou where he studied traditional mural painting and drawing. His academic training is evident in his many works on paper, which have been included in his recent exhibitions. After completing his studies, Ye Ling Han spent time living and working in Hangzhou and Shanghai where he further developed his artistic expression in this traditional medium. He recently relocated his studio to Beijing, near the 798 Arts District where he now works. Ye Ling Han's multi-media work has garnered great critical acclaim and attention both on home territory and overseas. More recently, he was included  in over 25 exhibitions such as the Minsheng Art Museum; MOCA Shanghai; Ben Brown Fine Arts in both London and Hong Kong; and the Today Art Museum in Beijing.

These beautifully designed plates are part of a series of collaborations for Artists' Editions at faux. There are 4 plates in each boxed set of a limited edition of just 50 sets. Each set contains a certificate signed by the artist.

A boxed set of 4 fine bone china sinner plates by Tang Kwok Hin (edition of 30)

Tang Kwok-hin is a mixed media artist and independent curator based in Hong Kong. Focusing his work on ‘the occasion’, ‘space’, and ‘time’ is his way of encountering images or symbols to explore hidden rules in living and existing in a context of self-expression. In his view, art is about selecting or underscoring something in a complete sentence. His artworks have exhibited at Hong Kong Museum of Art; the Ice Palace in Miami; the Esplanade in Singapore and Venice Arsenale, Italy. In 2009, he won first prize at Hong Kong Biennale, and in 2010 and 2011, he was awarded the Special Award “Personal Exhibition” by the 5th International Arte Laguna Prize. He also won the Young Artist Award in 2010. Collectors include Hong Kong Museum of Art, Deutsche Bank as well as private collectiors worldwide. He received his Master of Fine Arts from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2008.

A boxed set of 4 fine bone china sinner plates by Lulu Ngie (edition of 30 )

Lulu Ngie focuses on Chinese ink painting and prefers to use simple lines and forms in her figurative works. She also works in oil and watercolour. Today, her ink work is gaining much interest both at home and overseas and is perceived as a potent tool that raises questions about the role of Chinese and East Asian traditions in contemporary art, especially when global events such as art fairs are pushing this medium towards a more homogeneous aesthetic. Majoring in painting, Lulu Ngie, graduated from Hong Kong Art School in 2006.

A boxed set of 4 fine bone china sinner plates by Firenze Lai (edition of 30)

Firenze Lai says that she knows her studio of a few hundred square feet intimately; from the textures of its surfaces to the way the breeze blows into the room. The spaces depicted in her paintings are equally intimate. When curators seem to be at a loss for words to discuss troubled times, fear of containment, and the feeling of being completely enmeshed in a space, they turn to Lai's paintings, which have been shown as part of Para Site's A Journal of the Plague Year. Fear, ghosts, rebels. SARS, Leslie and the Hong Kong story (17 May–20 July 2013), and A Hundred Years of Shame—Songs of Resistance and Scenarios for Chinese Nations (6 March–17 May 2015). Further, Lai has shown work in international solo and group presentations, including Turbulence at Mirrored Gardens in Guangzhou (29 October–28 November 2015), the 10th Shanghai Biennale, Social Factory (23 November 2014–31 March 2015), the 2015 New Museum Triennial, Surround Audience (25 February–24 May 2015), and in Venice for the 57th Venice Biennale (13 May–26 November 2017). More recently, a selection of nine of Lai's paintings appear in Tai Kwun Contemporary's Contagious Cities: Far Away, Too Close (26 January–21 April 2019).

A boxed set of 4 fine bone china sinner plates by Cary Kwok (edition of 30)

Cary Kwok is a London and Beijing based artist well know for his exquisite ballpoint pen drawings. Born in 1975 and raised in Hong Kong, he moved to London to further his studies in the mid 90s spending six years at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design studying fashion at BA and MA levels. A fascination with fashion, period costumes, footwear and sexuality forms the nucleus of Kwok’s subject matter; the diversity of styles and street fashion of London, as well as period films, also influence him greatly. Subjects range from explicit male nudes to period portraits and still life.

And hairstyles and shoes are among his favoured subjects with work often subtly alluding to issues of race, ethnicity, culture, gender and sexual equality. Cary is represented by Herald St Gallery in London and has exhibited internationally in London, New York, Miami, Tokyo, Geneva and Zurich, including shows at Galerie Emanuel Perrotin, Miami; Attention to Detail curated by Chuck Close at FLAG Art Foundation, New York; Rude Britannia at the Tate Britain, London; Taro Nasu, Tokyo and Hauser & Wirth, Zurich.

Born in 1974 in Brighton, England, Birch has lived and worked in Hong Kong for over twenty years. He has had solo exhibitions in Beijing, Los Angeles, Miami, and Singapore and has participated in group shows at the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo. Birch has been awarded the prestigious Louis Vuitton Asian Art Prize and the Sovereign Asian Art Prize. He has organized manylarge-scale multimedia installation projects in Hong Kong, most notably: HOPE & GLORY: A Conceptual Circus (2010) and Daydreaming With…The Hong Kong Edition(2012) and has recently opened his show, The 14th Factory in Los Angeles.

A fine bone china gift boxed Tea Set in Faux’s iconic London Toile in Blue designed by Mariko Jesse. Includes a non-drip teapot plus 4 cups and saucers. These beautiful artist designed fine bone china Tea Set pours really well (up to 6 cups) will add so much style to your crockery collection. It comes with 4 cups and saucers. Jesse’s classic yet contemporary toile designs are timeless in every way and these elegant ceramics are a perfect addition to your home décor. Exquisitely packaged, they make for perfect gifts such as weddings and birthday presents. They are also great for festive celebrations such as Christmas, New Year and Thanksgiving.

A gift box set of 4 10.5-inch fine bone china Plates in Faux’s iconic London Toile repeat pattern in Blue designed by Mariko Jesse. These beautiful artist designed fine bone china 10.5-inch Plates will add so much style to your table setting. Jesse’s classic yet contemporary toile designs are timeless in every way and these elegant ceramics are a perfect addition to your home décor. Exquisitely packaged, they make for perfect gifts such as weddings and birthday presents. They are also great for festive celebrations such as Christmas, New Year and Thanksgiving.

Faux are delighted to present the Mehndi Collection, a beautiful box set of four fine bone china 12-inch Dinner plates designed by Riya Chandiramani. Designed in two complimentary colourways, these mehndi inspired designs are based on the elements: 'Earth' and 'Fire' in of gold and 'Water' and 'Air' in platinum. About Riya ChandiramaniBorn and raised in Hong Kong, Riya Chandiramani has a strong connection to her Indian heritage, which is distinctly evident throughout her work. Riya recognises art as a language and a mode of communicating, whether its about her identity, visions, or insights on the world and its people. A graduate of communications and fine art at the University of Pennsylvania, Riya is also designing and illustrating children's books.

A fine bone china gift boxed Tea Set in Faux’s iconic London Toile in Blue designed by Mariko Jesse. Includes a non-drip teapot plus 4 cups and saucers. These beautiful artist designed fine bone china Tea Set pours really well (up to 6 cups) will add so much style to your crockery collection. It comes with 4 cups and saucers. Jesse’s classic yet contemporary toile designs are timeless in every way and these elegant ceramics are a perfect addition to your home décor. Exquisitely packaged, they make for perfect gifts such as weddings and birthday presents. They are also great for festive celebrations such as Christmas, New Year and Thanksgiving.